Island



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

GEORGE HANCOCK, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR T() HI'A'ISELF ANDJAMES M. RUTHE-RFORD, OF SAME PLACE.

HOSE-COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 29,548, dated August 7, 1860.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE HANCOCK, oi Providence, in the county ofProvidence and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Hose-Couplings for Uniting Engine and Hydrant Hose by aSelf-Locking Action; `and I hereby declare the ufollowing to be a full,clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of t-hesame, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making part of thisspecification, in which- Figure l, is a longitudinal view of thecoupling. Fig. 2, is a like view of the same with the outer shell orjacket removed. Fig. 3, isa like view and sect-ion of the couplingshowing the manner of uniting and interlocking t-he two pieces.

Similar letters of reference denote like parts in all the figures.

In t-he drawings A, denotes the socket piece, and B, the nipple piece ofthe coupling, the nipple of the latter entering the former, and eachbeing provided with a corrugated neck C, upon which the hose is fastenedby winding the same with cord or wire.

71 L, h, are the latches which serve as fastenings. They are constructedin the form of levers, and secured to the barrel of the socket piece bymeans of the wire z', which both contines the said latches in thesplines formed lengthwise in the surface of the barrel for theirreception, and serves as a fulcrum or hinge for the latches to swingupon.

|The projections or catches s, s, s upon one end of the latches are madeto enter the groove or recess d, formed upon the outer surface of thenipple by the hugging action of the elastic band I, which may be ofindia rubber or of coiled metal spring and encircles the barrel of thesocket ,inclosing also the locking ends of the latches as shown in Figs.2, and 4. By means of this elastic band the several latches are made toact simultaneously in locking the nipple within the socket, and thecatches s, s, s, are furnished with a constant force, which renders thelocking effect selfacting so that it is only necessary t0 press thenipple into the socket to form a connection, and securely lock the sametherein. A washer or ring t, of leather is interposed between theforward end of the nipple and a like surface formed within the socket toprevent the water from escaping at this point.

The several catches are withdrawn in uncoupling by means of the metallicsleeve G, which surrounds the opposite ends n, n, n, of the latches orlevers h, L, h, and turns loosely upon the neck C, of the socket. Uponthe inside circumference of this sleeve are formed the wedges g, g, g,corresponding in number with the latches and again at the inclined facesof which the ends n, n, n, are pressed outwardly by the action of theelastic band I, at the opposite end as shown in Figs. 3, and 5, so thatby turning the sleeve in the direction 'shown by the arrows, the ends n,fn, n, will be depressed simultaneously in direction toward the centerof the sleeve, thereby lifting the catches s, s, s, upon the oppositeends, from the groove d, and thus unlocking the coupling.

The body or barrel of the socket is inclosed within a metallic shell orjacket H, to protect the latches and the parts acting therewith frominjury.

The coupling being constructed according to the foregoing descriptionoperates as follows: By pressing the nipple into the socket, the advanceedge of the nipple forces the catches s, s, s, outwardly and inopposition to the constant force of the elastic band I, until the grooved, arrives beneath the catches, when the latter' are forced thereinto bythe reaction of the elastic band, and the locking is effectedinstantaneously, the coupling action is then complete, the advance edgeof the nipple presses against the washer t, and forms a tight jointtherewith; and the force exerted constantly by the elastic band guardsagainst any accidental uncoupling.

To disconnect the two parts of the coupling, the sleeve G is turned uponthe neck C, in the direction indicated by the arrows, when by theactionhereinbefore explained the catches s, s, s, are withdrawn from thegroove d, the nipple is at once liberated, and the uncoupling iseffected.

I do not claim fastening the two parts of a hose coupling by means ofspring clam s, or clutches which are controlled by a sli ing I claiml.The combination of the lever catches h, h, h, with the elastic band I,or its equivalent substantially as described for the purpose specified.

2. The sleeve G in combination therewith constructed and operating asdescribed, for the purpose specified.

GEORGE HANCOCK. lVitnesses IsAAo A. BUNNELL, JAMES M. RUTHERFORD.

